Pathology · single question
The pulp of two teeth appears to be shared in which of the following dental abnormalities?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Gemination
Gemination occurs when a single tooth bud attempts to divide, resulting in a large tooth with two crowns and a SINGLE root/pulp canal. It appears as if two teeth share one pulp. Fusion is the union of two separate tooth buds, creating a single large tooth with two separate (or partially joined) pulp chambers — tooth COUNT is reduced by one. In gemination, the tooth COUNT is normal.
- A. INCORRECT. Dens in dente (dens invaginatus) is an invagination of the enamel organ into the dental papilla — it does not involve shared pulp between two separate teeth.
- B. INCORRECT. Concrescence is the joining of two teeth by cementum only (roots fuse) — the crowns and pulps remain separate.
- C. INCORRECT. Fusion = union of two separate tooth germs, creating a large tooth with TWO pulp chambers (initially) that may partially join. Tooth count is reduced. Fusion involves two separate pulps that may merge.
- D. CORRECT. Gemination occurs when one tooth bud partially divides, creating a large tooth with two crowns but a SINGLE root and SINGLE pulp chamber — the pulp of what appears to be two teeth is shared.